Rutgers Launches First US Study On Alzheimer’s Risk In South Asian Americans
India-West News Desk
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – A Rutgers University-led research team has launched the first U.S. study to track Alzheimer’s disease and dementia risk among South Asian Americans, aiming to identify the health, lifestyle and genetic factors that influence brain health in the community.
The South Asian Middle Age Risk Tracking for Brain Health (SAMARTH) study will follow 750 adults ages 45 to 70 from New Jersey and neighboring states, home to the nation’s largest South Asian population. About 170 participants have enrolled so far.
The initiative builds on a Rutgers-led review published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, which found that dementia risk factors among South Asians differ from those identified in largely European ancestry populations and remain poorly understood.
“South Asians are underrepresented in Alzheimer’s research, meaning there is a lack of tailored information and treatment options for them,” said Dr. Michal Schnaider Beeri, director of the Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center at the Rutgers Brain Health Institute. “The SAMARTH study could lead to personalized treatments, early diagnostic tools, and prevention strategies specifically designed for South Asians.”
Researchers said Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain often begin decades before symptoms appear, making middle age a critical period to identify risk factors and explore opportunities for prevention.
The study is open to English-speaking adults with roots in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bhutan and the Maldives. Participants undergo cognitive testing, neurological and physical exams, blood work, brain imaging and lifestyle assessments every 18 months.
The review examined studies conducted in India between 2000 and 2025 and compared the findings with the 14 modifiable dementia risk factors identified by the 2024 Lancet Commission.
According to Akankshi Oberoi, lead author of the review and a researcher at the Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center, evidence increasingly shows that dementia risks among South Asians differ from those in non-Hispanic White and European ancestry populations.
“An increasing body of evidence indicates that risk factors for dementia in South Asians differ from those in non-Hispanic White and European ancestry populations, creating a critical need for population-specific research to guide effective prevention and treatment,” Oberoi said.
The review identified diabetes and metabolic disorders, lower educational attainment, untreated hearing and vision loss, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition as major modifiable risk factors in India. It also found that genetic variants commonly linked to Alzheimer’s in European populations appear to have a smaller role among South Asians, suggesting lifestyle and environmental factors may carry greater weight.
The findings come as India’s population ages rapidly. The 2023 UNFPA India Ageing Report projects the country’s population aged 60 and older will reach about 340 million by 2050, underscoring the need for research that can improve dementia prevention and care among South Asians in India and abroad.
